WHSmith and Powergen to push unmetered Net access

Gives Affinity a buoyant outlook

Affinity Internet remains upbeat about the future, posting increased revenues and widening losses for the nine months to September.

The telecoms and ISP business said its Internet Division had experienced an increase in take-up of its wholesale unmetered FRIACO (Flat Rate Internet Access Call Origination) Net access products despite a slow start earlier in the year.

The company - which provides ISP services for other businesses - anticipates that most of the surplus capacity will be absorbed in Q4 when its major customers, such as Powergen and WHSmith, begin promoting their unmetered access packages.

WHSmith, the high street stationer and bookseller, is to implement a sizeable in-store promotion and advertising throughout its 730 UK stores and this should help lift Affinity.

This anticipated increase in demand is coupled with an ongoing commitment to reduce costs, the company said.

Elsewhere, Affinity believes its strategy to supply value-added services to the UK's four million small business will begin to pay-off in the first half of 2002.

Group turnover skipped in at £30.2 million in the nine months to September 30, compared to £7.2 million during the same period last year.

Pre-tax losses rose from £8.1 million to £17.5 million over the same period.

By mid morning shares in Affinity had risen 14p (20 per cent) to 72.5p. ®